Projects dominate Swamp Rats to extend domination

Anthony Kistmi named Hyperbowl MVP for record third time

The Manhattan Projects completed their most dominating season with a dominating performance in the Hyperbowl to claim their third championship in four years, and fourth total, tying the Monterey Jacks for the most. The Baton Rouge Swamp Rats, the surprise Western Conference winner after favorite Idaho was upset, despite some expectation that built similarly to the Projects and with veteran QB Nolan Void they could contend, showed promise early in the game, but then like so many Manhattan opponents, especially in the playoffs and Hyperbowl, succumbed to the superior defense, speed and stamina. Although the Swamp Rats played good enough defense to keep the game close for three quarters, by the fourth, the expected closing strength of the Projects made it anticlimactic.

Manhattan promptly stopped the Swamp Rats in three plays at their own 12-yard line to open the game, forcing them to punt from near their own end zone. The Projects set up at the Baton Rouge 48, and scored in 6 plays, the capper a 14-yard pass from QB Oliver Klozov to TE Yudong Hang.

But this is where the Swamp Rats showed promise. The ensuing kickoff was returned 32 yards to set them up on the 36. And it took them only 5 plays to go that distance. Void connected on passes of 24 yards to WR Noah Fence and 22 to WR Chester Nolsong, then after an incomplete pass, RB Bubba Butt burst up the middle for a 10-yard TD run. Perhaps this would be a shootout and Baton Rouge could keep up.

Manhattan was certainly ready for their end. But this time it wasn't so fast. Starting at their own 16, they took 10 plays to respond and retake the lead. All-East MVP Anthony Kistmi had runs of 26 and 18 on the drive, and then caught a 7-yard pass for TD.

From there, the game fell into a defensive contest that many analysts thought it could be. The Swamp Rats had matched Manhattan's defensive performance in the playoffs against the big guns of opponents Tucson and Wichita, and the Projects' big guns, Kistmi and WR Jason Skurtz had been less productive in the playoff games. There was no scoring in the second quarter, the score standing 14-7 Mahattan at half, and the Projects managed only a field goal in the third, after a 12-play drive that consumed the biggest chunk of the quarter.

But despite the game staying close, it seemed to be sliding the Projects' way. The fourth quarter brought the anticipated closing power of Manhattan. They scored on all three possessions, two field goals on either side of a TD, for 13 points, and put the game away.

K Cappy Collarneck hit a 40-yard field goal on the second play of the 4th, to convert a botched punt by Baton Rouge. Then starting on their own 20 after forcing another punt, The Projects marched to the end zone in ten plays, the game's real clincher. Klozov had passes of 13 to WR Orlando Difri, 32 to Hang and 15 to Kistmi, RB Avery Nastibooy had a 13-yard run, Kistmi scored from the 2.

Noid tried to get something going, too late as it may have been. But after a 16-yard run of his own, he was sacked for a 14-yard loss, as the Projects' energy would not flag. Manhattan forced another punt and used nine plays to burn more clock and add more points, a 27-yard Collarneck field goal.

Klozov completed 20 of 30 passes for 231 yards and 2 TDs, and carried 6 times 22 yards. Once again his performance was solid, efficient, error-free. He spread the passing around very evenly, with Hang getting 64 yards and a TD on 4 catches, Skurtz 80 on 7, Difri 61 on 6. Collarneck was 3 of 3 on field goal attempts.

Kistmi was still the driving edge of the offense and was named the game's most valuable player, becoming the first player in league history to receive that honor three times.

Void was held to just 9 completions on 25 attempts for 124 yards. He netted 52 yards on 10 carries, including sacks. The RB duo of Bubba Butt and Mister Period, that Baton Rouge hoped could match Manhattan's, was held to 16 yards rushing between them. Period had one reception for 25 yards. Swamp Rat ace WR Noah Fence had 2 catches for 32 yards, while TE Gorilla Maidriemz led their receiving with 3 catches for 34 yards. K Shelby Radimed missed two field goal attempts in the secon quarter.